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United States Patent |
5,521,887
|
Loomis
|
May 28, 1996
|
Time transfer system
Abstract
Apparatus for providing accurate local time for one or more timed devices
that depend on such time for operation. In one embodiment, a Satellite
Positioning System (SATPS), such as GPS or GLONASS, provides the time
signal information. In another embodiment, the time signal information is
provided by telecommunication means, such as a telephone, cellular
telephone or similar apparatus. The local time signal is distributed by a
time signal distribution module to one or more timed devices by a wire or
transmission line, by radio waves, or by direct contact with an input
terminal of a timed device. The time signal distribution module may be a
single station, a master station for a system of timed devices, or a
portable module that can be moved from one timed device to the next.
Inventors:
|
Loomis; Peter V. W. (Sunnyvale, CA)
|
Assignee:
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Trimble Navigation Limited (Sunnyvale, CA)
|
Appl. No.:
|
099907 |
Filed:
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July 30, 1993 |
Current U.S. Class: |
368/47 |
Intern'l Class: |
G04C 011/02 |
Field of Search: |
368/46-55
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4899117 | Feb., 1990 | Vig | 331/3.
|
5168478 | Dec., 1992 | Baker | 368/202.
|
Primary Examiner: Roskoski; Bernard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schipper; John
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for providing accurate local time for one or more timed
devices, the apparatus comprising:
an SATPS antenna positioned to receive SATPS signals from one or more SATPS
satellites;
an SATPS receiver/processor, connected to the SATPS antenna, to receive the
SATPS signals and to compute an SATPS-determined local time based upon the
location of the SATPS antenna; and
portable timing signal transfer means, separate from and communicating with
the receiver/processor, for receiving a sequence of at least two
SATPS-determined local times as radio wave signals from the
receiver/processor and for communicating a signal representing local time
to at least one timed device that has a timed device input terminal, the
timing signal transfer means having an output terminal that, when the
output terminal is placed adjacent to and no more than about 300 meters
from the timed device input terminal, communicates the SATPS-determined
local time to the timed device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to provision of accurate time for devices that
display or are controlled by time in a household or business.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A "timed device", that is, a device that displays the present time or is
controlled by time in its operation, is often found to display or to rely
upon an incorrect time and must therefore be reset. Timed devices in which
this situation occurs include clocks that control cooking intervals in the
kitchen, clocks used for automatic or manually controlled VCR recording of
a video program, clocks for lawn sprinkler systems, home and office
burglar system alarms, and vault door locking/unlocking systems. A time,
accurate when given to a timed device, may later become inaccurate because
of loss or marked diminution of electrical power supplied to the device,
because the time interval for operation must be changed, because the timed
device has passed into another time zone, or for many other reasons. Many
workers have provided sources for timing control and similar activities in
a commercial context.
One approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,128, issued to Novikov et
al for an automatic time distribution system. An independent primary clock
is connected to, and provides exact time signals for, a plurality of
secondary clocks by radio waves. Each secondary clock receives a sequence
of uncorrected "exact" time signals and a sequence of timing marks to
correct this uncorrected time. The time signals for each secondary clock
are apparently corrected separately.
Cater, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,265, discloses transmission of coded,
time-indicating signals from a master clock at a central station to one or
more slave clocks, using a two-wire line and binary-valued pulses with
different time durations. A time synchronizing pulse is periodically
inserted (e.g., once per second) on the line to correct for drift or other
errors. If the two-wire line is a standard 60-cycle power line or a
television cable, the binary-valued pulses use one or more frequencies
that lie outside the frequency range normally used on that line, to avoid
signal interference with the standard signals transmitted over that line.
A clock that can be synchronized by "wireless" signals is disclosed by
Gerum et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,310. The clock contains an
electromagnetically operated mechanical oscillator whose frequency 2f0 is
twice the rated frequency of an alternating current network connected to
the clock. A time synchronization module transmits a signal of frequency
f1>>f0 that is modulated by the network at 2f0 and received and
demodulated by the clock. Normally, the pulses received from the network
drive the clock and the oscillator is in a standby mode. The clock
oscillator is enabled, and the network is disconnected, when and only when
the network frequency differs by at least a predetermined amount from the
frequency 2f0 of the oscillator. The oscillator in standby mode receives
resonance energy of frequency.apprxeq.2f0 from the network for maintaining
the oscillations.
A TACAN air navigation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,616,
issued to Mimken. Range of an aircraft from an interrogation
signal-transmitting beacon is determined by the lapse in time between
transmission of the interrogation signal and receipt of a reply pulse
signal from the aircraft (called a "dwell" period in TACAN parlance). A
circuit at the beacon generates and uses a filler pulse during any dwell
period in which a reply pulse is not received from a target aircraft, in
order to maintain an rough and unspecified synchronization at the beacon
for the target aircraft when reply pulses are not received. An aircraft
velocity detector may be included, with velocity being determined by
averaging over several successive dwell periods to reduce the associated
velocity error.
Cateora et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,166, disclose a satellite-controlled
digital clock system for maintaining time synchronization. A coded message
containing the present time and satellite position is transmitted from a
ground station to an orbiting satellite and is relayed to a group of
ground-based receivers. A local oscillator aboard the satellite is
phase-locked to a precise frequency to provide the system with accurate
time-of-year information by a count of the accumulated pulses produced by
the oscillator. This count is compared with a time count determined from
the coded message received by the satellite. After a selected number of
errors are observed through such comparisons, the on-board clock is reset
to the time indicated by the coded messages received. If transmission of
the coded messages is interrupted, the on-board oscillator continues to
provide time information that is transmitted to the ground-based
receivers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,398, issued to Lemelson, discloses method and apparatus
for automatically resetting a timepiece according to the local time zone.
Apparatus, which is attached to and controls the time rate and displayed
time of the timepiece, receives electrical signals comparing the local
time with the time shown by the timepiece. If these two times do not
agree, the rate of change of the timepiece is increased markedly until the
two times (modulo 12 hours or 24 hours, depending upon the timepiece)
agree. The timepiece rate of change is then returned to its normal value
until another discrepancy in time is sensed. Resetting of the timepiece is
activated only after a time comparison occurs. This invention relies upon
provision of the local time zone standard from a source that may not be
available globally.
Electronic timepiece rate and time adjustment apparatus is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,975, issued to Moritani et al. The apparatus uses
frequency division of a crystal oscillator output signal to provide a
sequence of time-counting pulses to change the displayed time on an
electronic timepiece such as a digital clock. The pulse rate can be
changed when the time approaches the desired set time so that the
resetting procedure does not "overrun" the desired set time. The desired
resetting time is determined mentally, not automatically, and the time
resetting procedure is largely manual.
An antenna space diversity system for TDMA communication with a satellite
is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,654, issued to Ogawa et al.
Differences of temporal lengths of paths from the satellite through each
antenna to a ground-based signal processor station are determined by
measurement of times required for receipt of pre-transmission bursts sent
in the respective allocated time slots through two different antennas, in
a round trip from base station to satellite to base station. Variable time
delays are then inserted in the base station signal processing circuits to
compensate for the temporal length differences for the different signal
paths. These time delays are changed as the satellite position changes
relative to each of the antennas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,597, issued to Paynter et al, discloses receipt of
coded time and date signal from two geosynchronous satellites, which
signals are then converted into local date and time and displayed. The
frequency spectrum is scanned by an antenna to identify and receive the
satellite signals. Temporal length differences for signal paths from each
satellite through a receiving antenna to a signal processing base station
are determined, to provide compensation at the base station for these
differences. Time information is provided by a satellite every 0.5
seconds, and this information is corrected every 30 seconds. Signals from
either or both satellites are used to provide the time and date
information, in normal local time and/or daylight savings local time.
Jueneman discloses an open loop TDMA communications system for spacecraft
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,683. A spacecraft, such as a satellite, in
quasi-geosynchronous orbit carries a transponder that relays a coded
signal from a ground-based signal-transmitting station to a plurality of
spaced apart, ground-based receivers. This coded signal includes a time
index and an index indicating the spacecraft's present position. The time
index is adjusted by each receiver to compensate for the changing position
of the spacecraft through which the coded signal is relayed. The system is
open loop and requires no feedback from the receivers to the base station.
Nard et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,314, disclose a system for radio wave
transmission of time-referenced signals between two ground-based stations,
with compensation for multi-path transmission timing errors. Station no. 1
has a single antenna. Station no. 2 has two antennas, spaced apart by a
selected distance, to allow measurement of and compensation for multi-path
transmission path length differences. A signal processor located at the
receiver antenna combines a plurality of timing marks, received from the
transmitting antenna along multiple paths, into a single timing mark that
compensates for the multiple path length differences. This arrangement
allegedly allows station-to-station transmission over distances as large
as ten times the transhorizon or direct sighting distance (which is
approximately proportional to the square root of the product of antenna
height and Earth's radius).
Method and apparatus for determining the elapsed time between an initiating
event and some other event are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,830,
issued to Bulgier. A first timer and a second time mark the times of
occurrence, respectively, of an initiating event and a subsequent event
that depends upon occurrence of the initiating event. The two timers are
initially connected and synchronized, then disconnected before the
initiating event occurs. The timers are then reconnected after both events
have occurred, to allow determination of the elapsed time between
occurrence of the two events.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,255, Gygax et al disclose a timepiece for displaying
both the present time and the present orientation of the time piece
relative to the local Earth's magnetic field. The timepiece displays time,
date, and the direction and angle through which the timepiece must be
rotated in a tangent plane to align a fixed axis on the timepiece with the
local field. The local magnetic field direction can be determined by two
(static) Hall effect sensors placed at right angles to each other.
Distance ranging and time synchronization between a pair of satellites is
disclosed by Schwartz in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,211. Each satellite transmits
a timing signal and receives a timing signal from the other satellite. The
difference in time, including compensation for signal processing delay on
a satellite, between transmission and receipt of the signals is
transmitted by each satellite to the other satellite and is used to
establish time synchronization and to determine the distance between the
two satellites. This exchange of signals would be repeated at selected
time intervals to maintain synchronization, where the satellites are
moving relative to each other. No communications link to a third entity is
required, and only one of the satellite clocks need be adjusted to
establish and maintain time synchronization. Possible use of this approach
for two or more satellites in the NAVSTAR global positioning system is
mentioned.
Plangger et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,434, disclose transmission and
receipt of a continuously corrected sequence of timing signals. A
microprocessor at the receiver periodically compares these timing signals
with on-board timing signals generated by a local clock. A varactor diode
in a crystal oscillator circuit is adjusted to adjust the microprocessor's
operating frequency to minimize any error between the two timing signal
sequences. Timing signal processing delay time is compensated for in a
receiver circuit. The frequency for microprocessor operation is thus
continuously corrected. If the transmitted timing signals are too weak, or
do not arrive, the on-board timing signals are used to control the
microprocessor until the transmitted timing signals are received in
sufficient strength again.
A portable timekeeping device that provides reminders (alarms) for taking
certain actions at naturally occurring times is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,512,667, issued to Doulton et al. Means are provided for entering
information on the present geographical location, and the device computes
the appropriate times for taking the actions based upon the location and
local time of day and year. The intended application here is for an alarm
indicating the appropriate times after sunrise and before sunset for
Moslem prayers. The present geographical location is entered and used
together with the present time and present time of year (computed using a
timekeeping device plus information stored in a ROM) to determine the
appropriate times of day. A visually or audibly perceptible alarm is
provided at each appropriate time of the day.
Noguchi discloses a remote time calibration system using a satellite in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,257. A base station provides a reference system of
absolute timing signals and transmits these to a satellite that orbits the
Earth. The satellite then calibrates and periodically adjusts its
internally generated time and transmits observed data plus the
corresponding adjusted satellite time to one or more data receiving
stations on the Earth that are distinct from the base station. Time
calibration optionally compensates for signal propagation time delay from
base station to satellite and allows continuous transmission of data from
satellite to the data receiving station(s). Several time difference
indicia are computed here.
Several patents disclose data communications protocol for an electronic
network having a plurality of interacting, intelligent cells that receive
and act upon information continuously provided by the network: U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,018,138, issued to Twitty et al; 5,034,882, issued to Eisenhard et
al; 5,113,498, issued to Evan et al; 4,148,144, issued to Sutterlin et al;
and 5,189,683, issued to Cowart. These patents may use control signals to
coordinate the commands sent across a network but make no special
provision for setting, resetting or synchronizing the time for all
relevant timed devices.
Some of the references discussed above assume that a source of time is
locally available. Other references provide time signals from a remote
source but do not take account of the time delay caused by propagation of
such time signal from the time source to the timed device, or of the
possibility that the time source or the timed device may move relative to
each other from time to time. What is needed is a system that: (1)
provides accurate time, or a continuous sequence of accurate timing
signals, for a timed device or plurality of timed devices, anywhere in the
world; (2) automatically compensates for the propagation delay of a time
signal, even if the timed device and/or the time signal source move from
time to time; (3) is portable and can be easily reset for any time zone in
which the timed device is located; and (4) can be used discretionarily, if
desired, to provide time signals for some but not all timed devices in an
environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs are met by the invention, which provides local time determined
by a Satellite Positioning System (SATPS) or another localized time signal
source for one or a plurality of timed devices through an intermediary
timing transfer device that is either portable or is attached to a network
linking all timed devices in a system. The SATPS-based system includes an
SATPS antenna to receive SATPS signals from one or more SATPS satellites
and an SATPS receiver/processor that receives these SATPS signals from the
antenna and determines the location of the antenna and accurate local time
based upon this location.
Another accurate time signal source is distance-compensated time signals
provided over a telephone line, cellular phone or telephone network, using
either wires or a wireless connection. The present location of the time
signal source is known, and the present location of the telephone is
either known or determined. Time delay, due to a finite signal propagation
velocity from time signal source to the telephone, is determined, and the
time signal received from the time signal source is adjusted based upon
this signal propagation time delay to provide a local time signal that has
an associated inaccuracy of no more than one millisecond(msec).
An SATPS antenna and receiver/processor will download, directly or
indirectly, SATPS signals that provide local time into all designated
electronic timed devices, such as: clocks; clock radios; car clocks;
battery-operated timepieces, such as wrist watches; VCRs; stereo systems;
microwave units and other kitchen appliances; home security systems; and
lighting, heating, cooling, watering and pumping/filtering systems for the
home. A telephone-based system will operate in a similar manner, after
compensation for signal propagation time delay from the time signal source
to an intermediary timing transfer device.
Three approaches are available for such downloading in an SATPS-based or
telephone-based system. (1) Direct download from a portable or
fixed-location timing transfer device, through a wired or wireless
connection. The target timed device would contain a socket or wireless
input terminal, such as an infrared signal receiver. (2) Indirect download
of the time signal(s) to an intermediate, portable timing transfer device
that can be carried to each target timed device. Time signal transfers may
implemented by a controller using infrared or other electromagnetic,
possibly similar to a video controller but having one control button for
time upload from the time signal source and a second control button for
time download. (3) Coordinated download to many target timed devices in a
single operation by a master clock that receives timing signals from the
time source, such as one or more SATPS satellites. A dedicated time signal
receiver, such as an SATPS antenna and receiver/processor or telephone
line, may be used for this purpose. Optionally, a visual display for the
local time and/or date may be provided as part of the system that receives
the downloaded time signal and/or date signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an SATPS-based system for providing local
time signals according to a first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an telephone-based system for providing local
time signals according to another mode of the first embodiment of the
invention, using a portable intermediate source for the local time.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an SATPS-based system for providing local
time signals according to a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an telephone-based system for providing local
time signals according to another mode of the second embodiment of the
invention, using a portable intermediate source for the local time.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates an SATPS-based embodiment of the invention in which an
SATPS antenna 11 and associated SATPS receiver/processor 13 receive SATPS
signals from one or more SATPS satellites 15, 17, 19 and 21. The
receiver/processor 13 receives the SATPS signals from the antenna 11 and
determines the local time based upon these signals, using approaches that
are well known to workers in the satellite positioning art. Optionally,
the antenna 11 and receiver/processor 13 can receive SATPS signals from
three or more SATPS satellites and can also determine the location of the
antenna 11, according to well known principles in the satellite
positioning art.
An SATPS antenna receives SATPS signals from one or a plurality of SATPS
satellites and passes these signals to an SATPS signal receiver/processor,
which (1) identifies the SATPS satellite source for each SATPS signal, (2)
determines the time at which each identified SATPS signal arrives at the
antenna, and (3) determines the present location of the SATPS antenna from
this information and from information on the ephemerides for each
identified SATPS satellite. The SATPS signal antenna and signal
receiver/processor are part of the user segment of a particular SATPS, the
Global Positioning System, as discussed by Tom Logsdon in The NAVSTAR
Global Positioning System, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992, pp. 33-90,
incorporated by reference herein.
In a first mode of the first embodiment, a timed device 31 is located
adjacent to the SATPS receiver/processor 13 and receives signals
representing the local time directly from the receiver/processor. This
mode requires that each timed device be located adjacent to, and be
electrically connected to, an SATPS receiver/processor. Often, this will
require provision of several SATPS receiver/processors. If timing signals
with an inaccuracy of no more than, say, one microsecond (.mu.sec) are
required for a particular timing device, the adjacent SATPS antenna 11 can
be immobilized and its three-dimensional location can be fixed with high
accuracy. With the location of the antenna 11 accurately known, SATPS
signals received from several SATPS satellites can be used to provide
local time signals with the required accuracy.
As used herein, the phrase "time signal" includes but is not necessarily
limited to: (1) a digital signal or message that can be decoded into a
local time and/or date; (2) a digital signal or message that can be
decoded into a local time and/or date, having an associated timing mark
that may occur before or after the digital signal is received; or (3) a
digital or analog signal or message that is used to align the time of a
device that receives this signal.
In a second mode of the embodiment, the SATPS receiver/processor 13
includes or is connected to a time signal transmitter 13T. Timed devices
33 and 35 are spaced apart from the transmitter 13T, and each timed device
has an input terminal or port (which may include a signal-receiving
antenna) that receives local time signals from the SATPS
receiver/processor 13 and transmitter 13T. The local time signals can be
received on a time signal wire or transmission line 37 connecting the
timed devices 33 and 35 to the transmitter 13T. Alternatively, a time
signal antenna and/or transmitter 39 can be used to transmit the local
time signals by radio waves to the timed devices 33 and 35. The SATPS
antenna 11, SATPS receiver/processor 13, transmitter 13T, timed device 31
or timed devices 33 and 35, time signal transmission line 37 and time
signal antenna 39 are located adjacent to each other in a region R1.
Optionally, the timed device 31, 33 or 35 may have a visual display 32, 34
or 36, respectively, to display the local time and/or date.
In a third mode of the first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, SATPS
signals are received at a portable, preferably hand held, SATPS unit 41,
including an SATPS antenna 43 and SATPS receiver/processor 45 that
determines the local time from these SATPS signals. The SATPS unit 41 then
transmits local time signals by radiowave or by electrical signals to an
input terminal of each timed device 47 and 49, for setting or resetting
the local time for that device. The SATPS unit 41 can transmit the local
time signals to a timed device from a distance, or the SATPS unit 41 can
be pressed against the input terminal of a timed device to transfer the
time signal directly.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, wherein a time
signal distribution module 51 receives a sequence of signals representing
local time on a time source wire or transmission line 53, for distribution
to one or more adjacent timed devices.
In a first mode of the second embodiment, a timed device 61 is located
adjacent to the distribution module 51 and receives signals representing
the local time directly from the distribution module. This mode requires
that each timed device be located adjacent to, and be electrically
connected to, a distribution module. This will often require provision of
several time signal distribution modules. Once again, if the location of
the time signal distribution module 51 is known with sufficiently high
accuracy and is immobilized, signal propagation time delay on the line 53
can be compensated for, and inaccuracy of the local time signal received
by a timed device 63 can be reduced to one or a few microseconds or less.
In a second mode of the second embodiment, the time signal distribution
module 51 includes or is connected to a time signal transmitter 51T. Timed
devices 63 and 65 are spaced apart from the transmitter 51T, and each
timed device has an input terminal or port (which may include a
signal-receiving antenna) that receives local time signals from the module
51 and transmitter 51T. The local time signals can be received on a time
signal wire or transmission line 67 connecting the timed devices 63 and 65
to the transmitter 51T. Alternatively, a time signal antenna and/or
transmitter 69 can be used to transmit the local time signals by radio
waves or electrical signals to the timed devices 63 and 65. The time
signal distribution module 51, transmitter 51T, timed device 61 or timed
devices 63 and 65, time signal transmission line 67 and time signal
antenna/transmitter 69 are located adjacent to each other in a region R2.
Alternatively, the timed device 61, 63 or 65 in FIG. 3 may have a visual
display 62, 64 or 66, respectively, for the local time and/or date.
In a third mode of the second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, signals
representing local time are received from a time signal source wire or
transmission line 71 at a portable, preferably hand held, time
distribution module 73 that determines the local time from these input
signals. The time distribution module 73 then transmits local time signals
by radiowave to an input terminal of each timed device 75 and 77, for
setting or resetting the local time for that device. The time distribution
module 73 can transmit the local time signals to a timed device from a
distance, or the module 73 can be pressed against the input terminal of a
timed device to transfer the time signal directly.
Alternatively, the local time signal may be received by a cellular
telephone, and the transmission line 53 (FIG. 3) or 71 (FIG. 4) may be the
air, acting as a transmission medium. Here, no wire is required for the
transmission line and the time signal distribution module 61 or 73 in FIG.
3 or FIG. 4, respectively, need not be stationary. This allows additional
15 freedom of movement for the time distribution module.
A Satellite Positioning System (SATPS) is a system of satellite signal
transmitters, with receivers located on the Earth's surface or adjacent to
the Earth's surface, that transmits information from which an observer's
present location and/or the time of observation can be determined. Two
operational systems, each of which qualifies as an SATPS, are the Global
Positioning System and the Global Orbiting Navigational System.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is part of a satellite-based navigation
system developed by the United States Defense Department under its NAVSTAR
satellite program. A fully operational GPS includes up to 24 satellites
approximately uniformly dispersed around six circular orbits with four
satellites each, the orbits being inclined at an angle of 55.degree.
relative to the equator and being separated from each other by multiples
of 60.degree. longitude. The orbits have radii of 26,560 kilometers and
are approximately circular. The orbits are non-geosynchronous, with 0.5
sidereal day (11.967 hours) orbital time intervals, so that the satellites
move with time relative to the Earth below. Theoretically, three or more
GPS satellites will be visible from most points on the Earth's surface,
and visual access to two or more such satellites can be used to determine
an observer's position anywhere on the Earth's surface, 24 hours per day.
Each satellite carries a cesium or rubidium atomic clock to provide timing
information for the signals transmitted by the satellites. Internal clock
correction is provided for each satellite clock.
Each GPS satellite transmits two spread spectrum, L-band carrier signals:
an L1 signal having a frequency f1=1575.42 MHz and an L2 signal having a
frequency f2=1227.6 MHz. These two frequencies are integral multiples
f1=1540 f0 and f2=1200 f0 of a base frequency f0=1.023 MHz. The L1 signal
from each satellite is binary phase shift key (BPSK) modulated by two
pseudo-random noise (PRN) codes in phase quadrature, designated as the
P-code and P-code. The L2 signal from each satellite is BPSK modulated by
only the C/A-code. The nature of these PRN codes is described below.
One motivation for use of two carrier signals L1 and L2 is to allow partial
compensation for propagation delay of such a signal through the
ionosphere, which delay varies approximately as the inverse square of
signal frequency f (delay.varies.f.sup.-2). This phenomenon is discussed
by MacDoran in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,357, which discussion is incorporated
by reference herein. When transit time delay through the ionosphere is
determined, a phase delay associated with a given carrier signal can be
determined.
Use of the PRN codes allows use of a plurality of GPS satellite signals for
determining an observer's position and for providing navigation
information. A signal transmitted by a particular GPS signal is selected
by generating and matching, or correlating, the PRN code for that
particular satellite. All PRN codes are known and are generated or stored
in GPS satellite signal receivers carried by ground observers. A first PRN
code for each GPS satellite, sometimes referred to as a precision code or
P-code, is a relatively long, fine-grained code having an associated clock
or chip rate of 10 f0=10.23 MHz. A second PRN code for each GPS satellite,
sometimes referred to as a clear/acquisition code or C/A-code, is intended
to facilitate rapid satellite signal acquisition and hand-over to the
P-code and is a relatively short, coarser-grained code having a clock or
chip rate of f0=1.023 MHz. The C/A-code for any GPS satellite has a length
of 1023 chips or time increments before this code repeats. The full P-code
has a length of 259 days, with each satellite transmitting a unique
portion of the full P-code. The portion of P-code used for a given GPS
satellite has a length of precisely one week (7.000 days) before this code
portion repeats. Accepted methods for generating the C/A-code and P-code
are set forth in the document GPS Interface Control Document ICD-GPS-200,
published by Rockwell International Corporation, Satellite Systems
Division, Revision A, 26 Sep. 1984, which is incorporated by reference
herein.
The GPS satellite bit stream includes navigational information on the
ephemeris of the transmitting GPS satellite and an almanac for all GPS
satellites, with parameters providing corrections for ionospheric signal
propagation delays suitable for single frequency receivers and for an
offset time between satellite clock time and true GPS time. The
navigational information is transmitted at a rate of 50 Baud. A useful
discussion of the GPS and techniques for obtaining position information
from the satellite signals is found in Tom Logsdon, The NAVSTAR Global
Positioning System, op cit, incorporated by reference herein.
A second configuration for global positioning is the Global Orbiting
Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), placed in orbit by the former
Soviet Union and now maintained by the Russian Republic. GLONASS also uses
24 satellites, distributed approximately uniformly in three orbital planes
of eight satellites each. Each orbital plane has a nominal inclination of
64.8.degree. relative to the equator, and the three orbital planes are
separated from each other by multiples of 120.degree. longitude. The
GLONASS circular orbits have smaller radii, about 25,510 kilometers, and a
satellite period of revolution of 8/17 of a sidereal day (11.26 hours). A
GLONASS satellite and a GPS satellite will thus complete 17 and 16
revolutions, respectively, around the Earth every 8 days. The GLONASS
system uses two carrier signals L1 and L2 with frequencies of
f1=(1.602+9k/16) GHz and f2=(1.246+7k/16) GHz, where k (=0, 1, 2, . . . ,
23) is the channel or satellite number. These frequencies lie in two bands
at 1.597-1.617 GHz (L1) and 1,240-1,260 GHz (L2). The L1 code is modulated
by a C/A-code (chip rate=0.511 MHz) and by a P-code (chip rate=5.11 MHz).
The L2 code is presently modulated only by the P-code. The GLONASS
satellites also transmit navigational data at at rate of 50 Baud. Because
the channel frequencies are distinguishable from each other, the P-code is
the same, and the C/A-code is the same, for each satellite. The methods
for receiving and analyzing the GLONASS signals are similar to the methods
used for the GPS signals.
Reference to a Satellite Positioning System or SATPS herein refers to a
Global Positioning System, to a Global Orbiting Navigation System, and to
any other compatible satellite-based system that provides information by
which an observer's position and the time of observation can be
determined, all of which meet the requirements of the present invention.
A Satellite Positioning System (SATPS), such as the Global Positioning
System (GPS) or the Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS),
uses transmission of coded radio signals, with the structure described
above, from a plurality of Earth-orbiting satellites. A single passive
receiver of such signals is capable of determining receiver absolute
position in an Earth-centered, Earth-fixed coordinate reference system
utilized by the SATPS.
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